Pipeline Preview: Griffin looks to stay hot

July 1st, 2017

Here's a look at top prospects to watch in today's Minor League action:
Hitter to watch: Rafael Devers (Red Sox's No. 1), Portland at Hartford (5:35 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Devers, MLBPipeline.com's No. 12 prospect, stayed red-hot on Thursday as he went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs for Double-A Portland, one day after he hit a pair of homers in a 3-for-4 effort. The 20-year-old lifted his average to .301 with the multi-hit performance, and he's now driven in 50 runs in 68 games. Devers and the Sea Dogs will play two games on Saturday after Friday's contest against Hartford was postponed due to rain.

Pitcher to watch: Foster Griffin (Royals' No. 20), NW Arkansas vs. Corpus Christi (7:05 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Griffin has been outstanding since moving up to the Texas League as he enters the day with a 5-1 record and a 1.93 ERA through his first six starts for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He was outstanding before that, too, as the 21-year-old lefty posted a 2.86 ERA over 10 starts in the Carolina League to earn the promotion. He'll represent the U.S. squad in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game on July 9.
Duel of the day: Alec Hansen (White Sox No. 10) vs. (Brewers' No. 11), Winston-Salem at Carolina (5 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
Hansen tossed five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and striking out five, on Monday in his debut for Class A Advanced Winston-Salem. The 22-year-old righty was promoted following a dominant first half with Class A Kannapolis during which he posted a 2.48 ERA and a .207 opponents' average over 13 starts, with 92 strikeouts in 72 2/3 innings.

Diplan, meanwhile, will look to start the month on a positive note after he finished June with a 6.15 ERA in 26 1/3 innings (five starts). While he hasn't progressed as hoped so far this season after his breakout 2016 campaign, the stuff remains impressive and gives the 20-year-old righty one of the highest ceilings among pitchers in Milwaukee's system.

Saturday's Top 100 prospect probables
No. 61 Matt Manning (Tigers' No. 1), Connecticut at Brooklyn (6 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
No. 99 (Braves No. 9), Mississippi vs. Chattanooga (7 p.m. ET on MiLB.TV)
More top prospect probables
Tyler Mahle (Reds' No. 7), Louisville at Indianapolis (Triple-A)
(Indians' No. 13), Columbus at Toledo (Triple-A)
Zac Gallen (Cardinals' No. 23), Memphis vs. New Orleans (Triple-A)
Frank Duncan (D-backs' No. 24), Reno at El Paso (Triple-A)
Ariel Jurado (Rangers' No. 3), Frisco vs. Tulsa (Double-A)
Grayson Long (Angels' No. 5), Mobile at Jacksonville (Double-A)
Trevor Clifton (Cubs' No. 6), Tennessee vs. Jackson (Double-A)
Dakota Hudson (Cardinals' No. 9), Springfield at Midland (Double-A)
Domingo Acevedo (Yankees' No. 12) vs. Francisco Rios (Blue Jays' No. 18), Trenton at New Hampshire (Double-A)
(Braves' No. 18), Gwinnett at Charlotte (Double-A)
(Brewers' No. 19), Biloxi at Birmingham (Double-A)
Parker French (Rockies' No. 20) vs. Trey Ball (Red Sox's No. 29), Hartford vs. Portland (Double-A)
P.J. Conlin (Mets' No. 21), Binghamton vs. Harrisburg (Double-A)
Artie Lewicki (Tigers' No. 21), Erie vs. Altoona (Double-A)
David Hess (Orioles' No. 27) vs. Luis Lugo (Indians' No. 29), Bowie at Akron
Nick Neidert(Mariners' No. 3), Modesto vs. San Jose (Class A Advanced)
Franklyn Kilome (Phillies' No. 6) vs. Taylor Widener (Yankees' No. 27), Clearwater vs. Tampa (Class A Advanced)
Peter Lambert (Rockies' No. 6), Lancaster at Rancho Cucamonga (Class A Advanced)
Gage Hinsz (Pirates' No. 10) vs. (Braves' No. 19), Bradenton vs. Florida (Class A Advanced)
(Tigers' No. 10), Lakeland at Jupiter (Class A Advanced)
Norge Ruiz (A's No. 13), Stockton vs. Visalia (Class A Advanced)
Jake Woodford (Cardinals' No. 17), Palm Beach at Charlotte (Class A Advanced)
Shaun Anderson (Red Sox's No. 17), Salem at Wilmington (Class A Advanced)
Justin Steele (Cubs' No. 22), Myrtle Beach at Down East (Class A Advanced)
Joey Wentz (Braves' No. 13), Rome at Columbia (Class A)
Tony Santillan (Reds' No. 14), Dayton vs. Fort Wayne (Class A)
Cionel Perez (Astros' No. 16), Quad Cities at Burlington (Class A)
Mack Lemieux (D-backs' No. 20), Kane County vs. Peoria (Class A)
Michael Matuella (Rangers' No. 20), Hickory at West Virginia (Class A)
(White Sox No. 22), Kannapolis vs. Delmarva (Class A)
Micah Miniard (Indians' No. 26), Lake County vs. Bowling Green (Class A)